Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Community Recreation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fountain Hills Pickleball Club seeks extended terms, offers annual fee; board questions access and expansion
Summary
The Fountain Hills Pickleball Club asked the school board to extend its terms-of-use agreement through 2027 and proposed annualizing a proposed $2,000/month fee; board members raised concerns about public access, vandalism, membership caps and the $200,000-plus cost to build new courts.
James Goodman, president of the Fountain Hills Pickleball Club, presented a request to the Fountain Hills Unified School District board to extend the club’s terms-of-use agreement and to change the pay schedule from monthly to annual. Goodman said the packet contained a $2,000-per-month starting figure but the club preferred to make a single annual payment.
Goodman described a long relationship between the club and the district and said the club has taken responsibility for maintenance and insurance. He noted past annual donations (the last cited donation was $1,200) and asked the board to consider a multi-year extension to support planned capital work. The current agreement was described in the packet as extended through Jan. 1, 2027.
Board members pressed on public access and student use. Administration and the presenter said the courts are currently locked to nonmembers because of vandalism and crowding; the club reported roughly 650 members and more than 200 people on a waiting list. The board discussed whether a district team or PE classes could still access the courts; administrators said district use is preserved in the agreement and the club has historically avoided scheduling that conflicts with school activities.
The club indicated interest in building additional courts but cited bids above $200,000 for a three-court setup (no lighting), and said construction timing would likely target summer months to avoid disrupting school activities. Board members suggested negotiating a shorter-term extension (one board member proposed four years instead of five) and directed staff to work with the club on alternatives, competitive-rate research and a return presentation.
Notable quotes from the presentation included: "We have 650 members, and we have over 200 on the waiting list," and the packet’s fee reference: "...identify the $2,000 a month fee that was suggested at that time." The board did not take a final vote on a contract extension at this meeting; administration and the club agreed to confer on fee structure and timing and to return with options.
Sources: presentation by James Goodman and subsequent board discussion.
